Automatic cut-off device.



No. 783,341. PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905. I. E. WEEL.

AUTOMATIC CUT-CPF DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1903.

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O20/Z MW@ @MM/@@1111 Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

IRA E. VVEEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '783,341 dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed December 28. 1903. Serial No. 186.836. I

To @ZZ whom, t 'ma/,zj concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA E. WEEL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut- Oi Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cut-ofi' devices, being particularly applicable to and herein described as an automatic valvecontrol mechanism for closing the outlet of a natural-gas pipe upon the reduction of pressure and gas-supply therein below a predetermined point.

The object of my invention is the production of a pressu re-controlled device of extreme simplicity and cheap construction for positively operating a suitable valve part for this and analogous purposes.

It has been a commonly-observed occurrence that the pressure in natural-gas mains especially is liable to such uctuations or stoppage that lighted burners connected therewith are extinguished, and upon the resumption of the normal gas-suppl y escaping gas is a source not only of marked discomfort and inconvenience, but of great danger and loss through the explosion of the gas. Accordingly I have endeavored to overcome this serious disadvantage by the provision of the simplest possible type of positively-acting device for permanently shutting off automatically Vthe fiow' of gas under the circumstances indicated. This I have accomplished by means of a controlling part regulated by the fiow of gas actingin opposition to a weight or its equivalent, which in turn governs suitable Valve mechanism. My invention, however, very obviously can be made much more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment thereof.

Figures I and II are longitudinal sectional views of a mixer-chamber for gas to which my invention has been applied, the valve device and controlling parts being shown, respectively, in their open and closed positions. Y Fig. III is an end View thereof, partially broken away to illustrate the interior, the valve being closed.

pipe, which is not shown in the drawings.

The same character of referenceis used to designate similar parts in each of the foregoing figures.

Although not necessarily associated with the gas-mixer, my improvements may very conveniently be applied thereto, and I have chosen to describe the same .in connection therewith.

In the drawings the mixer-chamber m is shown provided with the usual air inlets or openings 0, being forwardly tapped at f to receive the burner connection and rearwardly at fr, wherein the supply-pipe may be iitted. It will be understood that the manually-operated valve governing the gas-supply to the mixer and burner would be located in said n entrance from the supply-pipe to the mixerchamber is provided in the opening or inlet t', wherein is seated the tapering or needle valve part n. At the outer extremity thereof is screwed an obstructive part or cup c, having a rear stop s to engage the casing, while the other end of the valve part a is loosely connected with the lever Z, pivoted within the wall of the mixer-chamber. A weight w swings independently from its own pivot at the lower end of said lever, in an overbalanced position. The several parts are so designed that the iiow of gas Within the supply-pipe will more than counterbalance the weight when it is in the position shown in Fig. I, by reason of the obstructive action, slight though it be, of the cup c, guarding the inlet or opening. Thus when the manual valve is opened and the cutoff appliance adjusted in the manner shown gas will continue to flow to the burner so long as the gas pressure or flow is maintained above the predetermined point at which it is desired that the appliance shall act, the weight being opposed by the iiow of gas. This results by reason of the maintenance of the weight in a position of unstable equilibrium, but supported by the obstructive or inipeding part provided in the cup c, wliereon the iiow of gas acts to maintain the connected valve part in open position andr support the very slight weight normally exerted by the arrangement shown. The adjustable stops prevents undue inward movement of the valve part, while to IOO meet varying conditions the cup o may be replaced by one of smaller or even slightly larger diameter suitable to different gas-pressures. Indeed, for a relatively low gas pressure or flow an auxiliary tapering tube a, as indicated in Fig. I, may be introduced when needed to direct the full flow of gas centrally within the cup or equivalent obstructing part. Immediately the iow of gas is checked or ceases from any cause, however, it will be seen that the weight at once acts to rock the lever on its pivot, closing the needle-valve and forcing it home in turn by the outward swing of the weight upon its pivot at the end of said lever, just as indicated in Fig. II. Thus the valve will remain closed until its controlling parts are again adjusted, even though the full pres-.

sure of gas is once more maintained, the device being governed by the flow of gas when properly established through itscontrolled outlet. Accordingly the appliance affords an immediate and automatic protection against the accidental escape of gas or other fluid placed under its control.

Having now explained one embodiment of my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a valve-inlet, of avalve part controlling the same, its connected obstructive part disposed on the inlet side of the valve in the supply-pipe and adapted when held in its open position by the iiow of gas to permit the continuance of such flow, and an opposing element adapted automatically to seat the valve part under predetermined conditions, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic cut-off appliance, the combination with the valve-inlet permitting the fiow of gas to the burner, of a valve part designed to close the same, an impeding element connected to actuate the latter, disposed in the path ofthe controlled gas within the supply-pipe on the inlet side of the valve, and a weight opposing the action of the flow of gas upon said element and adapted to seat the connected valve part upon the reduction in the flow of gas, substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic cut-off appliance, the combination with a valve-inlet, of a valve part controlling the same, an obstructiveror impeding part in the supply-pipe on the inlet side of the valve, adapted under normal conditions to permit the iiow of gas past it and to maintain the valve part in its open position, a lever connected with said valve part, and a weight acting upon the lever in opposition to the impeding part and adapted to close the valve under predetermined conditions,sub stantially as set forth.

4. The combination with 4the mixer-chamber, of the valve-inlet connecting with the suppl y-pipe, the needle-valve therein, the cup or impeding part in the supply-pipe before the inlet, the lever connected with the needlevalve part, and the weight independently pivoted thereon in position to force said valve part to its seat upon the reduction in pressure in the supply-pipe, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic gas-cut-off appliance,the combination with the controlling-valve, of an obstructive part positioned before the valveinlet to permit the iiow of gas past it under normal conditions of such flow; the same comprising a reciprocating plunger carrying an impeding portion in the supply-duct, againstw which the ow of gas is directed initially, and means acting in opposition to the flow of gas, associated with the valve mechanism and adapted to close the same until released, upon the cessation of the fiow of gas, substantially as set forth.

6. In an automatic gas-cut-off appliance, the combination with the controlling-valve, of an obstructive part in the supply-pipe on the inlet side of the valve, influenced by the continuous flow of gas to maintain the valve open, and an overbalanced weight associated with these parts and opposed by the current of gas, adapted under predetermined conditions automatically to seat the valve part and prevent the subsequent ilow of gas, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, this 26th day of December, 1903, in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

IR E. WEEL.

Vitnesses:

`GHAs. A. LEWIS, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

